The Sunflower House is one of those hidden gems I always hope to stumble upon when reading new authors. And this is Adriana Allegri's debut!

This mostly fact-based WWII era historical fiction was gut-wrenching, hopeful, tragic, and absolutely beautiful. I love books that capture humanity at its best and worst. This book was a hard read in spots, but essential to our shared world history. If you enjoy historical fiction, definitely pick this one up!

This was another ARC that I am late to read, but thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this book, which was released in November 2024. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A gentle, heartwarming story about grief, healing, and finding beauty in second chances. Allegri’s writing is lyrical and comforting, perfect for fans of quiet, character-driven novels. The sunflower house is a beautiful symbol of growth and hope — this one lingers like sunshine after rain. Thank you to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley.

I love reading anything World War 2 historical fictions and this one immediately drew me in. I feel in love with the characters along the way while completing hating others. It was so well written with the defined changing perspectives. I enjoyed learning more regarding the Lebensborn Program and its dark history. Thank you for this ARC!

**Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and author Adriana Allegri for the ARC of this book**

I like Allina as a character, and I enjoyed reading about her bonds with other women. It has timeline switches which I am partial to, and it added to the book.
While I do have those positive opinions, the lack of speaking on the other atrocities happening during this time really dampens those warm and fuzzies. They felt glazed over, almost to make him seem more human in my opinion. On the other hand, I didn't know about the Lebensborn Program and its tragic history. The Sunflower House made me stop and research more and I still finished it in two days.

I've read a lot of historical fiction set in this time period and it is always difficult to read about the atrocities during the Holocaust. This story was even more so because babies and children were the focus of the story. We all know and have read and learned about what was done to all the Jewish people during that horrific period but many don't know about what was done to the children and the eugenics program that necessitated obscene experiments on children. What makes this story even more difficult is the current world climate. Every time a "bulletin" was read (or decreed), I felt like we are traveling the same path as those who lived then but hoping against hope that something stops it before we relive the same history in this era. It is difficult to say I loved the book because of the subject matter but I DID. Some secrets need to be brought to the light in order to heal and this story did what it set out to do....heal.

Thank you @NetGalley and @St. Martin’s Prss for providing me with this ARC.

Wow, what a beautifully written book! I read 80% of it this morning because I simply could not put it down. I have a deep appreciation for stories about World War I and World War II, as it's important to remember the horrors that millions of people faced during that time. We are incredibly fortunate to live as freely as we do now. "The Sunflower House" exceeded my expectations; at times it brought me to tears, while at other moments it filled me with warmth and happiness. It presents a somber reality but also tells a beautiful love story. It serves as a reminder of what we can achieve when we act from a place of love and work together without prejudice.

I love historical fictions and I love books about WWII. I’m fascinated by the stories of the Nazi ‘baby factories’ of war time and the Lebensborn Program. This book was so interesting. It grabbed me in a way very few books do.

Allina stuck at Hochland Home, desperate for work and survival during the war, but wanting to protect the young girls in her charge also.

I can’t believe this is a debut novel. Adriana is an amazing storyteller.

I love that Saskia Maarleveld is one of the narrators on this book. I will listen to anything she narrates, and she definitely makes the female voices of this story come to life.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my copies of this book.

Even though I'm pretty much burned out on WW2 historical fiction, I will occasionally pick one up if the synopsis sounds intriguing. I'm glad I grabbed this one. It is not a book that will have you feeling like you're watching a Hallmark Channel type movie where everyone lives and the Nazis are just slightly mean. There are a couple of violent scenes where you might wish the author had chosen to "fade to black."

Highly recommend!

Netgalley ARC

I went into this one knowing enough of the history to understand what I was getting into that. That only marginally reduced the impact of the story. This is a heavy read, but I don't think the topic can be addressed in a lighthearted way.

Allina is a compelling character despite her horrifying story centering on the appalling Lebensborn Program. That program, and what happened to so many of the children there, is something that stays with you once you learn about it.

There is a secondary timeline set in the future, but this felt wholly unnecessary. It didn't add much to the story and was more of a distraction. I've noticed the trend is to add this to all the historical novels lately. It's a device I usually enjoy, but only when it adds value to the story - which I didn't feel it did in this case.


A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for this advanced digital copy. I paired the audio with the digital copy, and the audio was very well done!

Set in Germany during World War II, The Sunflower House is the story of one woman’s determination to resist and survive her secrets — it is also her love story. There was always so much at stake every step along the way.

This debut historical novel uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. I am ashamed to say that I was unaware of these Nazi-run baby factories, so I learned A LOT!

This story is a real-life Handmaid's Tale, so take care of content warnings that you would expect to read in a story of this nature. If you enjoy reading and learning about this time period, you’ll enjoy this book!

I absolutely loved The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri—it’s one of those hauntingly beautiful stories that grabs your heart, shakes it a little, and lingers in your thoughts long after the last page.

I had to sit with this story for a few days after finishing it. I had put this one aside for a while as it is not in my normal wheelhouse but I wish I hadn't.

I was immediately drawn in. I loved the idea of a mother trying to protect her daughter from the family secrets and grief. The idea of the daughter finding these memories and the mother finally telling her story - it was heart wrenching.

I couldn't help but become fully entrenched in the story. I was unable to put the book down. It's beautifully written, haunting, thought provoking with a touch of a heart warming relationship. A reminder of the good that can exist in the horrific.

I commend the author for taking on such a challenging topic, sharing the realities, placing some good and hope in the story. While fictional, this story felt so real, so hard. I don't think I have the right words but this book will linger with me and looks to be at the top of my list for this year.

Unbelievable but based on truth. This book will assist the reader to find the inspiration for the book The Handmaids Tale in my opinion. So many things that would be appalling happened during the reign of Hitler and that continues to push the boundaries. This was a very well-written and engaging story. It centers around a young woman named Allina and Heinrich Himmler’s appalling Lebensborn Program. After a traumatizing experience in her small home town Allina is forced into service as a nurse at Hochland Home where young Aryan women are encouraged to procreate with the SS soldiers in order to populate Germany with children with blood lines. The book is well researched, engaging and well written. Definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin's Press

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri is a moving WWII novel about a woman forced to work in a Nazi maternity home. Powerful and emotional, it reveals a dark part of history with courage and compassion.

I love finding new WWII stories. I feel like there are so many different angles we don't know about and The Sunflower House is a whole new angle. I enjoyed that this story was told by the main character when she's older and finally telling her daughter the story of both of her parents. The love story between the two main characters was beautiful. It was very heartbreaking but a top notch story.

A pleasantly surprising wonderful story. There was a time where I felt every story of WW2 had been translated into a historical fiction story. I have not heard of this story before, which I think was one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much!

The story of a house where single (or widowed) young women could go during their pregnancy and what exactly took place in that house are both saddening, heartbreaking and yet exhilarating. You can decide which parts of the story of which.

I have already suggested it to a few people and believe they, too, will enjoy the story.

I am absolutely speechless! My favorite genre is historical fiction and I've read many WWII books and those focused on the Holocaust and the concentration camps. I am always amazed by how most authors bring new truth and new information to such a widely covered time in our history; however, I was NOT ready for this book and its focus which was something that I never even knew existed: baby factories. Everyone knows about Hitler and his outlandish ideas about having a "perfect race." Nothing perfect exists! Allina is the woman this story is based on and her time in one of those "homes" called Hochland Home. Most of us know group homes aren't the best and the way the babies at these places were treated (basically fed, diapered, and laid to sleep) was not conducive to good growth and mental development.

Due to Hitler's insane ideas, women (married and single) were encouraged to have sex with either their husbands or single women with soldiers. Infidelity was encouraged in this case since many (or most) of the soldiers were married but they were encouraged to have sex with as many women as they could so the women would get pregnant. Some of the babies were born "perfect" but as mother nature would have it, some weren't. Those who weren't were sent away...where to? The so-called perfect ones were adopted out.

I don't want to give anymore spoilers so I'll just say it's heartbreaking, well-researched and beautifully written, informative, and it is so far one of my very best reads of the year (if not THE best).

I always have to prepare myself when I sit down to read a historical fiction from this era, knowing what I’m about to consume is not going to be easy to digest. So many horrors occurred during this time in history, and it never ceases to amaze me that no matter how much I learn, I am still shocked by the atrocities.

This is a side of the war that I have not done too much study on, yet I found myself more and more appalled and fascinated the deeper I dove into the narrative. The imagery is incredibly intoxicating, pulling me into this world, allowing my mind’s eye to see everything in technicolor. I felt every swirl of doubt, every slice of fear, and the immense love and passion for not only each other but for the children as well.

Though tastefully told, I could’ve done without the cursing and sexual parts, especially the assault, which was very triggering for me. I understand the desire to convey emotions, but I found the language unnecessary and detracting from the story. However, I must admit that the power of the story itself helped me overlook these flaws.

The epilogue, while bittersweet, was satisfying in its own way. The peace that comes when all secrets have seen the light should not be underestimated. This is a story I believe everyone should hear.

I really liked The Sunflower House. I had no idea the Nazi's forced young German girls to have babies in order to create a perfect Aryan race. It made me sad that once the babies were born they were neglected and deprived until they were adopted out.

The Sunflower House is a story of Allina Straus in the 1930s Germany. After her village is raided by Nazis, and everyone around her killed, she is taken into a state-run home, the main purpose which is to breed as many "pure-blood" babies for the Fuhrer as possible.
There, she meets an SS officer, who is not what he appears and similarly to Allina keeps a dangerous secret about his true heritage.
The book was really captivating and well written. I really enjoyed Allina's story and the budding romance between her and Carl. I'm looking forward to more books by this author.